Childcare is required to be licensed in the state of Colorado. There are many different types of licensing to meet the needs of families and children. The Colorado Division of Childcare (part of the Department of Human Services) website can provide you with a complete set of licensing rule and regulations for childcare services in Colorado - www.colorado.gov. This department can also be reached at 1-800-799-5876.
In additional to finding childcare licensing rules and regulations, the web site also offers the opportunity to get information on childcare facilities. This summary will tell you general facility information, licensing capacity, licensing inspections, complaints, child abuse investigation, licensing follow up, and any adverse licensing action. Complaints can also be taken at the Department of Human Services, Division of Childcare at 1-303-866-3755
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) also administers funding for the childcare assistance program (CCAP) available in each county. To find out more about CCAP call the Department of Human Services in the county where you live, in Pitkin call 970-429-2040, in Garfield call 970-625-5282 x 116, and in Eagle call 970-328-8781.
The CDHS also administers funding for quality improvement initiatives including early childhood councils, childcare resource and referral, and the “expanding quality in infant and toddler classrooms” class. Our local early childhood council is the Rural Resort Region Early Childhood Councils - Western Division. Click here to go to that website. The RRRECC includes Eagle, Garfield, Lake and Pitkin County representation and works across the four counties to promote and support a system of quality, accessible, affordable early childhood services with families in the Rural Resort Region.
If you are interested in starting a childcare program or determining if you have the qualifications to work in a licensed childcare program, you can find those forms on the above website. Kids First can also answer your questions and give you additional resources. For information about starting a licensed family childcare home you can also contact our local licensing specialist, Dana Damm at 970-945-9191 x 3066 or at ddamm@garfield-county.com.